Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

This Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing has quickly become one of my go-to condiments for jazzing up meals. I’ve made homemade ranch and Greek dressing before, but I wanted something brighter and frutier!

Making your own salad dressings is so easy, much easier than you think, and healthier too! I reach for this fruity dressing all year long, especially when I’m craving something sweet to pour on top of a salad or to use as a marinade for chicken.

Since it can be made with frozen raspberries, you don't have to worry about them being in season. The best part about this dressing is you can totally swap out raspberries for another berry or citrus fruit, and it will be just as delicious!

A Simple Vinaigrette That Tastes Like Summer

Here's why I'm obsessed with this dressing:

• Takes 5 minutes: Blend, taste, and you're done! Perfect for busy days when you want something fresh and homemade.
• Ways to serve: Use it as a salad dressing, drizzle it over grilled veggies or meats, or use it as a marinade for chicken.
• Customize to your tastes: Want it a bit sweeter? Add more honey. Like it tangier? A little extra lemon juice or vinegar does the trick. Make it just the way you like it.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's everything you need to make raspberry vinaigrette at home!

• Raspberries: If you don't have fresh, frozen works just as well! Just make sure to thaw and blot off any extra moisture.
• White wine vinegar: Adds a little tang. If you don't have white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar are good substitutes with a slightly different flavor.
• Honey: You can add more if you like a sweeter dressing or swap it with maple syrup for a different flavor.
• Lemon juice: Fresh is best, but bottled lemon juice will do in a pinch.
• Dijon mustard: Trust me on this one. It brings a little creaminess and mild heat to the vinaigrette, making it extra smooth and flavorful. If you don't have Dijon, yellow mustard can work, but the flavor will be a little different.
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds a savory depth and balances the sweetness of the raspberries. If you prefer a milder taste, use less or skip it altogether.
• Onion powder: This adds a bit of savory sweetness to round out the dressing. It's a small detail that helps the flavor pop, but you can leave it out if you're not a fan of onion.

How do you make Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing?

Making this dressing is really, really difficult and requires basically a million steps. No, I'm totally joking. Making this berry dressing is as easy as pie!

Simply add all the ingredients (raspberries, oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and salt) into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Then, put it in the fridge in a sealed container or jar until you're ready to use it.

That's it! Simple!

Do I need to strain the dressing?

That's totally up to you! If you're not a fan of seeds, you can blend the raspberries separately and strain them through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the raspberry seeds. Otherwise, you can make the recipe as is, and it's delicious!

Recipe Ideas and Tips

There are so many ways to tweak this dressing. Here are just a few of my favorite ideas:

• Berries: Swap 1 cup of raspberries out for blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries.
• Juice: Instead of using lime juice, you could use orange or lemon juice and still have that tangy citrus flavor to balance out the berries.
• Oil: This dressing is super light, but you can add some olive oil for a little extra flavor.
• Herbs: Add a teaspoon or two of fresh herbs like rosemary, basil, or thyme to give this dressing a more earthy flavor.
• Shallots: Love the taste of shallots? Add in half of a shallot when blending.
• Heat: Another thing I like to add to this dressing is a pinch of unexpected heat via a dash of red pepper flakes or half a seeded jalapeno.

How can I use Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing?

There are endless ways to use this raspberry vinaigrette! Here are some of my favorites:

• Marinade: Use it as a marinade for chicken before grilling.
• Wrap: Make a Grilled Veggie Hummus Wrap and drizzle on this berry dressing for a bit of tartness.
• Dip: Use this dressing as a dip for Crispy Baked Potato Wedges or crudites.
• Meat: Drizzle some dressing on top of Dijon Baked Salmon or Easy Grilled Chicken Breast.
• Balsamic: Add balsamic to the dressing, then heat a cup or so over medium-low heat on the stovetop in a saucepan to reduce and drizzle over all the things.
• Jicama and Orange Salad: This raspberry vinaigrette adds a zesty, sweet kick that perfectly balances the crisp jicama and juicy oranges!
• Spinach salad: Swap the balsamic for raspberry vinaigrette in this Spinach Salad with Creamy Balsamic for a pop of tart flavor!
• Easy Arugula Salad: The peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts in this salad go great with a bright pop from this vinaigrette.
• Grilled Watermelon Salad: Give your grilled watermelon salad a little zing with the raspberry vinaigrette. It's the perfect match for that smoky sweetness.

How long will this dressing last?

Raspberry vinaigrette will last about two weeks in the fridge if it is stored in an airtight container.